Maldives National Defence Force

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF; Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ދިފާއީ ބާރު, romanized: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Qaumee Dhifaaee Baaru) is the national military responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives. It is primarily responsible per the constitution to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity, its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the people.[5] Its branches include the Maldivian Coast Guard, the MNDF Marine Corps, and the Special Forces.

Maldives National Defence Force
Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ދިފާއީ ބާރު, romanized: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Qaumee Dhifaaee Baaru
Founded21 April 1892 (1892-04-21)[1]
Service branches
  • Coast Guard
  • Marine Corps
  • Special Forces
  • Service Corps
  • Defence Intelligence Service
  • Military Police
  • Corps of Engineers
  • Special Protection Group
  • Medical Corps
  • Adjutant General's Corps
  • Air Corps
  • Fire and Rescue Service
HeadquartersBandaara Koshi, Malé
Websitemndf.gov.mv
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed ForcesMohamed Muizzu[2]
Minister of DefenceMohamed Ghassan Maumoon[2]
Chief of Defence ForceMajor General Ibrahim Hilmy
Vice Chief of Defence ForceBrigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas
Personnel
Military age16 to 35
Reaching military
age annually		35 males,
20 females
Active personnel58,000+[3] (ranked 112)
Reserve personnel30,000
Expenditures
Budget$777.5 Million ] 11.98 Billion) "Budget 2023". Ministry of Finance, Maldives.</ref>
Percent of GDP8.5%[4] (2024 est.)
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Maldives

Equipment

Aircraft
HAL Dhruv of Maldives National Defense Force gifted by India
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Bayraktar TB2  Turkey UCAV 6 Bought From  Turkey .[6]
Transport
Dornier 228 Germany/India maritime patrol 1[7] Gifted by India[8][9]
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv India SAR / utility Mk.3 2 Gifted by India[10]

|- | F-35 Lighting II | United States | Multirole fighter | 2

Vehicles

Howitzers & Rocket Launchers

Air Defence & Radars

VIP Transport

Rank structure

The ranking system of the MNDF is based on the traditional British military system and U.S. military system. The highest flag rank ever awarded was that of lieutenant general, in a non-military capacity to the previous Defence Minister Abdul Sattar, although the president being the commander in chief also holds the rank of general in a non-military capacity.[11]

Officer corps
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Maldivian Marine Corps[12]
ޖެނެރަލް
Jeneral		 ލެފްޓިނަންޓް ޖެނެރަލް
Leftinant jeneral		 މޭޖަރ ޖެނެރަލް
Meyjar jeneral		 ބްރިގޭޑިއަރ ޖެނެރަލް
Brigeydiar jeneral		 ކާނަލް
Kaanal		 ލެފްޓިނަންޓް ކާނަލް
Leftinant kaanal		 މޭޖަރ
Meyjar		 ކެޕްޓަން
Keptan		 ފަސްޓް ލެފްޓިނަންޓް
Fast leftinant		 ލެފްޓިނަންޓް
Leftinant

Warrant officer corps
Equivalent
NATO rank		 WO-5 WO-4 WO-3 WO-2 WO-1
Maldivian Marine Corps
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer grade 4 Warrant officer grade 3 Warrant officer grade 2 Warrant officer grade 1

Enlisted corps
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Maldivian Marine Corps[12]
 No insignia
ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ އޮފް އެމްއެންޑީއެފް
Saarjant meyjar of emendeeef		 ކޮމާންޑް ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ
Komaand saarjant meyjar		 ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ
Saarjant meyjar		 ފަސްޓް ސާރޖަންޓް
Fast saarjant		 ސާރޖަންޓް ފަސްޓް ކްލާސް
Saarjant fast klaas		 ސްޓާފް ސާރޖަންޓް
Staaf saarjant		 ސާރޖަންޓް
Saarjant		 ކޯޕްރަލް
Koapral		 ލާންސް ކޯޕްރަލް
Laans koapral		 ޕްރައިވެޓް
Praivet

Medals and ribbons

Medals
  • Medal of Honor
  • Presidential Medal
  • MNDF Medal
  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Good Conduct Medal
  • Medal for Exceptional Bravery
  • Dedicated Service Medal
  • Medal of Bravery
  • Purple Heart
  • Long Service Medal
  • Gold Life Saving Medal
  • Silver Life Saving Medal
  • 3 November Medal
  • Centenary Medal
  • Saarc Summit Medal
  • Minivan 50 Medal
  • Minivan 60 Medal

Ribbons
  • Presidential Ribbon
  • MNDF Ribbon
  • Long Service Ribbon
  • Ribbon of Skill
  • Dedicated Service Ribbon
  • Special Duty Ribbon
  • Achievement Ribbon
  • Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Ribbon for Bravery
  • Good Conduct Ribbon

General officers

Serving general officers

Retired general officers

(Former Commandant, MNDF Service Corps)

(Former Commandant, MNDF Marine Corps)

Dismissed general officers

Notes
  • 1 Ambaree Abdul Sattar is the first person to have held lieutenant general rank and also served as the Minister of State for Defence.
  • 2 Adam Zahir held the rank of major General from 29 April 2004 to 1 September 2004 prior to the appointment as Commissioner at Maldives Police Service.
  • 4 Colonel Ahmed Nilam held the rank of brigadier general before he was demoted and dismissed from the service. He was dismissed for failing to act according to the responsibilities, conduct and rules of MNDF.
  • 5 Moosa Ali Jaleel is the only person who have served as both the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Force.
  • 6 Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef held the CDF post for the shortest tenure (From 17th November 2023 - 17th April 2024) due to compulsory retirement upon reaching 60 years of age as per MNDF Act. He previously served as the Vice Chief of Defence Force from 11 December 2018 to 17 November 2023

See also

References
  1. "History of MNDF". mndf.gov.mv. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  2. "Leaders". www.mndf.gov.mv. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. "Budget 2016". Ministry of Finance, Maldives.
  4. "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  5. "About Us". MNDF. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012.
  6. "Maldives receives renowned Turkish drones amid India tensions". Daily Sabah. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  7. "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. "MNDF puts off disclosing info on Indian donated aircraft". en.sun.mv. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. "India Hands Over Surveillance Aircraft to Maldives Amid Strategic Tussle with China". xairforces.com. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. "India donates second naval Advanced Light Helicopter to Maldives". thehindu.com. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  11. "Ranks Used". MNDF. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012.
  12. "ރޭންކް ސްޓްރަކްޗަރ". mndf.gov.mv (in Divehi). Maldives National Defence Force. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  13. "MNDF Structure | MNDF". Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
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